BURRILLVILLE – It’s nearly summer and kids will soon be on school vacation and spending plenty of time at our state beaches enjoying the outdoors and water recreation.
Keep in mind that overexposure to the sun can cause severe sunburns and dehydration. Dehydration can lead to illness and cause harm to young bodies. It can also cause harm to teenagers and adults. Sunburns are avoidable and every precaution should be taken to make sure infants and toddlers are not overexposed to direct sunlight for any length of time. Heat stroke is also an issue and concern during the summer months. Kids should drink plenty of water during the day. The same applies to teenagers and adults. Kids should avoid soda and sugary drinks when enjoying outside activities all summer season. When traveling in convertibles make sure that you limit exposure to the sun. Windburn can also have an adverse effect on little kids buckled up in backseats. Limit time in the sun and drink plenty of water this summer.
Play safe and be sun smart.
Jim Weicherding is a Burrillville resident, and the founder and creator of an award-winning traffic safety effort Seasons of Safety. Weicherding contributes kids’ coloring cartoons, which can be printed and used to help parents discuss safety issues with their children. He has a long list of police officers and firefighters in his family and has worked with law enforcement and firefighters in a creative public safety capacity for more than two decades.
